Improvement in steam-gauges



PATENT OEEICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-GAUGES.

Specification fbrming part of Letters Patent No. 116,669, dated July 4, 1871.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD C. BLAKE, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Steam-Gauges; and I hereby declare the following' to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part of this specification.

My invention relates to devices for making a steam-joint between the diaphragm of a steamgauge and its ease, and consists in the provision of a stamped annular bead in the diaphragm about midway in the width of its joint-face, and a corresponding annular groove in the face of the gauge-case. This bead and groove, in connection with an interposed leaden gasket and a suitable compressi n g-follow er above the di aphra gm serve, with but little pressure, to make a solid, unyielding, metallic, steam-tight joint, which is not perishable, as other steam-joints are, and, consequently, will not need renewal in the life of the gauge. The object of my invention is to dispense with the yieldingI perishable India-rubber gasket, which interferes with the correct indications of the gauge, and provide an unyielding metallic joint, as easy to make stea11\,tiglit as a rubber one.

Figure l is a sectional perspective view ofthe case, diaphragm, and follower. Fig. 2 is a central section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detached view of the diaphragm. The coinlecting mechanism between the diaphragm and dial and the dia-l itself are not shown inr the drawing, as they do not enter into the invention.

A represents the back of the customary gau gecase, the steam being admitted at B. The jointface a of the case is constructed of sufficient width to correspond with the width reserved for joint on the diaphragm, and a groove, C, turned in it, as shown7 which may be of any preferred form in cross-section, half-circle, V-shaped, or analogous form, suited to perform the office. The case A is also constructed with an annular projection, D, screw-threaded in the interior for the reception of the follower E. The expansible or corrugated portion of the diaphragm F is constructed in accordance with the Letters Patent issued to me July-31, 1866, although I do not desire to confine myself' to a-ny particular form of corrugated diaphragm in Iny present invention. The port-ion of the diaphragm not corrugated is reserved to form the steam-joint, and corresponds in width to the face a. Midway in this steamjoint surface, or nearly so, I stamp a-bead, G, in the diaphragm-plate, which corresponds in shape to the groove in the face a, and is located so as to come immediately opposite to the said groove. A gasket of lead, H, is interposed between the diaphragm F and the face a., which, when the fol lower E is screwed tightly down, is forced into the groove C by the bead G, the gasket originally being a common flat gasket. When so forced into the position shown in Figs. l and 2, a perfectly steam-tight joint is made, and with but lit tle pressure or force exerted upon the follower, as the gasket is not pressed after it has once a complete metallic contact with the diaphragm and face a (l. This joint will not permit the diaphragm to dip or move on the outer edge, a-nd thus interfere with the indications, as is common with the rubber gaskets when the gauge is under pressure. It is also unlike rubber, in being imperishable under the influences of steam.

It has been customary in the manufacture of diaphragm steam-gauges to interpose a rubber diaphragm between the steam and the metallic diaphra gm, to prevent corrosion of the latter. This is impractieable with my improved joint, and I therefore nickel-plate the diaphragm F G before or after it tempered. This I have found suihcient to prevent corrosion. The follower E may be forced down by bolts, if preferred, the exterior thread shown being omitted in that case.

I claim- In a diaphragm steam-gauge, the combination ofthe annular groove ay in the face G of the case, Inetallic gasket H, diaphragm F having an annular bead, G, and follower E, to form a steamjoint, substantially as set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

RICHARD C. BLAKE.

Witnesses FRANK MILLWARD, HENRY MILLWARD. 

